Totem Bight

Eagle wearing a Chilkat blanket.

Ketchikan is home to the world's largest collection of totem poles, making the Totem Bight State Park an annual adventure when we are in town. The Chilkat blanket was a prized possession amongst the natives, with the art of weaving orininating with the Tsimshians near Wrangell, AK and spreading to the Tlingit tribes through trade & marriage. A unique combination of mountain goat hair (hunted by the men) & red cedar bark fibers, it was woven by the women with the men's detailed design in mind. The color combination is always black, white, yellow & blue due to the natural dyes available in the area.

http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/units/totembgh.htm

The Halibut pole, my Mom's favorite, is being redone as the pole was rotting from so much rain. It was fun to see it close up as opposed to suspended high above us...don't ask me why I am making such a silly face.
Oscar throwing rocks into the ocean during high tide.

Fireweed: nearing the top to remind us that summer is almost over.

The Clan House

(This is a replica built by the CCC in the late 30's)

Oscar & I in the infamous clanhouse doorway

It's all in the details...

A few of the poles will soon be undergoing extensive work as they have been damaged by rot from too much rain exposure or insects.

Big Boy: Oscar was so cute trying to hold the railing as he walked down the boardwalk.Typical summer day in Ketchikan: raining with temps in the mid-50's.

Must...Pick...Up...Rock!

Throwing boulders this time!

Oscar had a few close calls when they fell near his feet rather than in the water. He probably wouldn't have felt anything though as he had gotten his feet wet!

Gee! Haw!
Practicing our mushing commands outside a nearby curio store.

Cookie Monster(s)

We made scrumptious chocolate chip cookies on a rainy day.

Settler's Cove

We went to the church picnic at Settler's Cove...it was raining but we had loads of fun picking berries & playing near the water. When we got home Mommy had to dump all the saltwater out of my boots...I don't know how there was room for my feet in there!?!
He wasn't doing what he looks like he was doing...phew!
Making "Tidepool Soup" with our friend Rose.
Walk softly & carry a big stick (& a rock!)

Jenna & I preparing years in advance for the junior high survival trip by eating freshly roasted seaweed.

YUM!

Grandma Judi

Grandma Judi is back in Michigan visiting family before returning to Seattle to start her radiation treatment on September 3rd. As you can see, she looks wonderful!

Camping with Madisen

A beautiful day at Ward Lake

Perfect for sitting around a campfire
picking up rocks along the trail

hiking around the lake

Devil's Club (Ouch! Watch our for thorns)

Cousin Madisen being silly

Eww, the salmon are returning to spawn (if you look close you can see a dead one between the log and the bank)

Cousins in action

Trekking across the bridge

Learning about salmon

An axe? Just for me?

Eleanor "cooking" over the campfire pit

She asked if we were humans or animals, saying that they ate animals, not humans. Then proceded to say she was cooking a cat, dog and a bird!?! (with plant matter nontheless!)

Spying on salmon swimming upstreamAll BOY...throwing rocks into the water

Camping Cousins

Crabbing

Oscar & I heading out to the beach with our friends Julia & Kai to flip rocks & find crabs!
Oscar had fun shoveling rocks around

Julia & I would stockpile them in our orange scoop & then set them in tidepools!

Logistics

Mom will start her radiation treatment in Seattle September 3rd after a visit with her family in Michigan. She will be stopping in Seattle on her way east to have her body mold and markers placed so that when she returns she'll be ready to get started.

The kiddos and I have decided to stay in Alaska for another two weeks as Daddy will be going to Bahrain for 10 days & therefore unable to pick us up at the airport in DC. We should all be (finally!) together again as a family just in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

Helping Poppa

Trying to melt excess ice in the slush tanks by adding salt water & mixing...I think it looks like applesauce! Grandpa had to sell fish early b/c of his water pump problem & therefore only had 2 hours worth of fish to sell and a weeks worth of good ice to melt.
Scrub-a-Dub-dub!
Oscar & I attempt to remove dried on blood & fish scales from the sidewalls.

You find a brush

add soap

& apply a little elbow grease!

See?

Oscar was mad until he got his turn!

In the background you can see two cruise ships tied up downtown with Revillagigado Island on the left (town side) & Pennock Island on the right.

Snack time. All that hard work made us hungry!

Whatchagot sissy?

(All changed into dry clothes...now to stay that way!)

Glow in the dark Hootchie!

Oscar at the helm

Captain Eleanor & First Mate Oscar